Price Per Dose: £59.99
Hepatitis A is a highly infectious virus that can cause liver inflammation. The virus is usually transmitted through food or water contaminated by human faeces or by contact with an infectious person.
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About hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a viral infection that affects your liver caused by a hepatitis virus.The virus affects the functionalaity of your liver and causes it to swell.
Hepatitis A caused by hepatitis virus is a mild type of hepatitis and may require no treatmenet however the severity of the disease increases with age. The asymptomatic illness is common in children,however,children under the age of 6 mostly dont show the symptoms. Jaundice may occur in 70–80% of those infected as adults.Some of the Hepatitis A symptoms include;dark urine,abdominal pain,flu symptoms .jaudice,loss of appetite and gray stool.
Recovery can vary from weeks to months. Following hepatitis A illness, immunity is lifelong.
How can you get hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is caused by a virus that lives in poop and blood of infected patient.Travellers are at increased risk of getting Hepatitis A due to close contact to people who might be infected and food poisoning. Below are some of the ways you can get Hepatitis A:
- Drinking contaminated water
- Eating contaminated food
- Eating food that’s been handled by an infected person
- Close physical contact with an infected person, including having sex and sharing needles to take drugs
- Staying with or visiting the local population
- Travelling to areas where sanitation and food hygiene are likely to be poor
- Exposure to the virus at work
- Travelling to areas with hepatitis A outbreaks where there is limited access to safe water and medical care
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Number of doses required and when to boost
| Number of doses | When to boost |
|---|---|
| Two dose schedule of hepatitis A vaccine should be given at day 0 and then 6 to 12 months after the initial dose, but in late-presenting travellers, a course does not need to be restarted. | Protection is expected for 25 years from the second dose, and a further booster is generally not needed except for those at ongoing risk. |
Not sure what service option you need?
If you are unsure which vaccines you need for your holiday, why not take advantage of our travel health advice service? This service includes a personalised telephone consultation to determine your travel health requirements, including vaccination, altitude sickness, jet lag, period delay, travellers' diarrhoea and antimalarials.
High risk areas for hepatitis A
Areas with high levels of infection include low-income countries that may have relatively poor sanitary conditions and hygiene practices. These areas include:
- The Indian subcontinent
- Sub-Saharan and North Africa
- Parts of the Far East
- South and Central America
- The Middle East
Hepatitis A virus is transmitted through contaminated food or water. The virus is mostly in countries with poor sanitation systems.
A booster is only needed for people living or working in the risk areas . Hepatitis A vaccine is given as two doses and after completing the second dose, you will be protected from the virus for approximately 25 years.
Some side effects you may notice after a vaccine injection are redness, soreness, and a firm painless lump on the injection area. .
Less common side effects include:
- Fever
- Feeling unwell
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Poor appetite
You can help prevent hepatitis A when travelling by:
- washing your hands thoroughly before preparing and eating food
- drinking bottled water
- avoiding eating shellfish and uncooked fruit and vegetables
- using a condom or dam when having sex
Symptoms of hepatitis A infection include:
- a high temperature
- flu-like symptoms, such as tiredness, headache, and muscle pains
- feeling sick or being sick
- pain in your upper tummy
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea or constipation
- pale yellow or pale grey poo
- dark brown pee
- itchy skin – you may also have a raised rash (hives)
- yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
Most children, and some adults, may have mild symptoms or no symptoms.
Your employer should organise your vaccination if your job puts you at risk.
Yes, you can get next-day appointments at all our branches. Contact our customer care team if you cannot find an available slot.
There are some things you can do when you have hepatitis A to help ease the symptoms and to stop infecting others.
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Limit contact with other people for 7 days after your symptoms started or seven days after jaundice started (adults should stay off work, and children should stay off from school or nursery) | Do not drink alcohol |
| Rest and drink plenty of fluids | Do not prepare food or drink for others |
| Take painkillers like ibuprofen and paracetamol - ask your doctor for advice on how much paracetamol you should take because you may not be able to take a normal dose | Do not have sex without a condom or dam until you're no longer infectious |
| Keep your room well-ventilated, wear loose-fitting clothing, and avoid hot baths and showers if you feel itchy | Do not share needles with others |
| Wash your hands thoroughly after going to the toilet |
|
NHS offers Hepatitis A vaccine free.